Recipe for sanction as NSC gets power to sack, take over and manage AFN, NBBF, NWF, other National Sports Associations
Drafters of the new National Sports Commission (Establishment) Act 2023 seem to be out of tune with the realities of international sporting codes and statutes after giving the NSC powers that conflict with provisions of the statutes of many international sports federations, including that of the International Olympic Committee, IOC.
In the new NSC Act signed into law in May 2023, the Commission, in article 16, was given the power set up National Sports Associations as well as appoint Chairmen (President) and other members.
Article 16, subsection 1 states thus: The Commission may set up National Sports Associations for each kind of sport and may appoint chairmen and other members thereof; accordingly, all matters relating to the constitution, affiliation, recognition, of international competitions and to officers of National Sports Associations shall be submitted for approval to the Commission.
Subsection 2 also states that it ‘shall be the duty of the Commission to supervise and, where in the opinion of the Commission it is necessary to do so, take over and manage for such a period as the Commission may deem fit the affairs of National Sports Commission.’
Subsection 4, a bit ambiguous states thus: ‘Without prejudice to subsection (2), the Commission shall not interfere with the general administration of National Sports Associations set up under this Act but may give directions when it is necessary to do so.’
If the NCS board exercises this function, it will definitely attract suspension/ban from the International Sports Federation concerned, and even the IOC and the Act will be regarded as third-party interference.
About one-third of the National Sports Associations in Nigeria have their own constitution approved by their international governing bodies, specifying among other things how elections into the various boards should be conducted as well as the mode of removal of elected members, including the President/Chairman.
It would be recalled that the World Basketball body, FIBA, threatened to suspend Nigeria from international basketball following the interference by the erstwhile Ministry of Sports and Social Development in the activities of the Nigeria Basketball Federation, NBBF, in 2021.
It will also be recalled the threats of FIFA ban each time the Nigerian government attempted to intervene in the administrative structure of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.
